Automatic shutoff valve and gas trap

ABSTRACT

THIS INVENTION PROVIDES AN AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF VALVE AND GAS TRAP. A MAIN BODY PORTION IS PROVIDED WITH AN INLET PASSAGE (PREFERABLY RADIAL) AND A VALVED OUTLET PASSAGE (PREFERABLY RADIAL) WHICH TWO PASSAGES ARE PREFERABLY INTERCONNECTED BY AN AXIAL PASSAGE. AN ANNULAR VALVE SEAT IS PROVIDED FOR THE AXIAL PASSAGE. ATTACHED TO THE MAIN BODY PORTION IS A FLOAT BOWL CONTAINING A FLOAT VALVE. THE FLOAT VALVE IS UNTETHERED AND IS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE VALVED OUTLET PASSAGE. THE VALVE IS GUIDED TO OSCILLATE VERTICALLY BETWEEN TWO POSITIONS. THE FIRST POSITION IS A LIQUID-DISPENSING POSITION WHEN THE VALVE ON THE VALVED OUTLET PASSAGE IS OPEN. THE SECOND POSITION IS A LIQUID-SHUTOFF POSITION WHEN THE VALVE IS CLOSED. IN THE LIQUID-DISPENSING POSITION, THE INLET AND OUTLET PASSAGES, AS WELL AS THE BOWL, ARE FILLED WITH LIQUID, WHILE IN THE LIQUID-SHUTOFF POSITION, THE INLET PASSAGE AND THE BOWL ARE EMPTIED OF LIQUID AND THE OUTLET PASSAGE IS FILLED WITH LIQUID.

United States Patent {72] Inventor Reginald W. Stott South Burnaby,Canada [21] Appl. No. 848,407 [22] Filed July 30, 1969 [45] PatentedJune 28, 1971 [73] Assignee Beer-master Industries Ltd.

British Columbia, Canada Continuation of application Ser. No. 658,745,Aug. 7, 1967. now abandoned.

[54] AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF VALVE AND GAS TRAP 8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 222/66 [51] lnt.Cl B67d 5/32 [50] Field of Search 222/66,400.7; 137/399 [56] References Cited UNlTElJ STATES PATENTS 729,6796/1903 Schwanninger 137/399X 911,225 2/1909 Flach et a1. .i 222/4007932,153 8/1909 Martin 222/66 1,952,790 3/1934 Dean 222/66 1,242,61310/1917 Smith 25l/Needle Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg AssistantExaminerH. S. Lane AnorneySpencer & Kaye ABSTRACT: This inventionprovides an automatic shutoff valve and gas trap. A main body portion isprovided with an inlet passage (preferably radial) and a valved outletpassage (preferably radial) which two passages are preferablyinterconnected by an axial passage. An annular valve seat is providedfor the axial passage. Attached to the main body portion is a float bowlcontaining a float valve. The float valve is untethered and isoperatively connected to the valved outlet passage. The valve is guidedto oscillate vertically between two positions. The first position is aliquid-dispensing position when the valve on the valved outlet passageis open. The second position is a liquid-shutoff position when the valveis closed. In the liquid-dispensing position, the inlet and outletpassages, as well as the bowl, are filled with liquid, while in theliquid-shutoff position, the inlet passage and the bowl are emptied ofliquid and the outlet passage is filled with liquid.

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ATTORNEYS AUTOMATIC SIIUTOFF VALVE AND GAS TRAP This application is acontinuation of my application Ser. No. 658,745, filed Aug. 7, i967, nowabandoned.

The invention also provides the combination of such automatic shutoffvalve with a hollow beer-tapping rod.

The invention further provides the combination of such an automaticshutoff valve with a hollow beer-tapping rod installed on a beer barrel.

This invention relates to an automatic liquid-shutoff valve and gas trapfor use in liquid-dispensing or transmission lines where a liquid isforced therethrough by a gas under pressure and it is desirable todispense such liquid free of excessive foam. More particular, thisinvention relates to an automatic shutoff valve and air or carbondioxide trap for use in draft beer dispensers in order to minimizeexcessive foaming in the dispensed draft beer.

Many commodities are dispensed by forcing a liquid through a conduit bya gas such as air or carbon dioxide under pressure. Among suchcommodities are beverages such as coffee, tea, hot chocolate, carbonatedbeverages and beer, and other viscous edible materials such as soups. Inaddition other liquids, such as fuels and lubricating oils, may bedispensed in this manner. When the source of liquid to be dispensed is afinite large volume in a container, difficulties arise when thecontainer approaches the empty condition, since the liquid beingdispensed is usually in excessively foamed form. While this is not tooserious for most liquids, it may bring about a reduction in tastequality in a delicate beverage, such as beer.

There are many systems for the dispensing of draft beer. One, known asthe Zahm system, embodies the use of the Zahm liquid-dispensingapparatus disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. l.273,02l issued July16, 1918. The system involves tapping two beer barrels andinterconnecting the barrels by means of a two-way valve to the beer tap.A source of gas, such as air, under pressure is admitted to each barrelwhen it is tapped. The two-way valve is used to switch from the emptybeer barrel to the full beer barrel. The beer barrels are maintainedunder cool storage at a temperature of about 38 F. The beer is propelledfrom the beer barrel to the Zahm valve situated in a cooler at atemperature of about 36 F. adjacent the bar. When the beer barrel isempty, the entire system, namely the lines in the Zahm are filled withthe gas under pressure. A float valve mechanism in the Zahm then isactuated to release the pressure of air. However, when a full barrel ofbeer is turned on, the beer initially dispensed is excessively foamy dueto the presence of the air in the system.

In another system known as a Golden Gate Hook-up" a plurality of beerbarrels located in the previously mentioned primary cool storagelocation and at a temperature of about 38 F., are interconnected inseries and are then connected by a single line to a secondary cooler,which may be, as described above, a Zahm valve. The same problemsoutlined above for the Zahm system are present when the Golden GateHook-up" is used.

In yet another system, the secondary cooler, in a Golden Gate Hook-up iseither of the systems known by the Trade Mark of Heatex or a Tempright.In such alternative systems, a canister is used in which is disposed twocoils, one containing refrigerant and the other containing the beer, theboth coils being immersed in a suitable liquid coolant, such as water.In this system also, when the last barrel is empty the entire system isfull of air.

A still further system is the Beer Master automatic draft beer dispensersystem, described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,257,033 issued June 21,1966 to R. W. Stott. In this automatic dispensing system, the samesecondary coolers as described above are used and consequently similarproblems, attendant solely with the Zahm, Heatex or Tempright systemsexists. Thus, both time and beer are wasted before the system is clearedof gaseous pockets and the drawing of drafts of beer devoid of excessivefoaming can take place.

An object of one aspect of the present invention is to provide anautomatic liquid-shutoff valve and gas trap for liquiddispensing lineswhich minimizes excessive foaming of the dispensed liquids.

An object of a particular aspect of this invention is the provision ofan automatic combined beer-shutoff valve and air or carbon dioxide trap,so that when beer is being dispensed from a beer barrel under air orcarbon dioxide pressure, excessive foaming of the dispensed beer isminimized both when a barrel is almost empty and when a full barrel isplaced in the dispensing line.

An object of yet another aspect of this invention is the provision of anovel draft beer-dispensing system incorporating the novel shutoff valeof a primary aspect of this invention.

By one broad aspect of this invention, an automatic shutoff valve isprovided comprising: a main body portion including i. an inlet passage,and ii. a valved outlet passage; a float ibowl upstanding from said mainbody portion; an untethered float valve disposed within said flat bowland operatively connected to said valved outlet passage, said floatvalve being guided to oscillate vertically between i. aliquid-dispensing position when said valve on the valved outlet passageis open and when said inlet passage, said bowl and said outlet passageare filled with liquid, and ii. a liquid-shutoff position when saidvalve on the valved outlet passage is closed, and when said inletpassage and said bowl are emptied of liquid, and said outlet passage isfilled with liquid.

By another aspect of this invention, there is provided, in combinationwith a hollow beer-tapping rod including means for securing the rod to abeer barrel, means for supplying a gas under pressure to the barrel andvalved outlet means, the particular automatic shutoff valve recitedhereinabove.

By yet another aspect of this invention, there is provided, incombination: at least one beer barrel containing beer; a hollowbeer-tapping rod including means for securing the rod to a beer barrel,means for supplying a gas under r pressure to the barrel and a valvedoutlet means; the particularly recited automatic shutoff valve disclosedhereinabove; and a beer tap operatively connected to the outlet of theautomatic shutoff valve.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a general elevational view of the automatic liquid shutoffvalve of one aspect of the present invention;

, FIG. 2 is a central longitudinal section showing the valve in itsliquid-dispensing position;

FIG. 3 is a central longitudinal section showing the valve in itsliquid-shutoff position;

FIG. 4 is a section along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section partially in elevation showing acombination according to a further aspect of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is an elevational view in partially diagrammatic form showing acombination according to a still further aspect of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 1, it is seen that the automatic shutoff valve of oneaspect of the present invention indicated generally at 10 consists ofabase 11, a bowl 12, a relief valve 13 and a blowout mechanism 14.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, it is noted that the base isgenerally hollow, cylindrical in shape and it includes a radial aperture20 in which is threaded an inlet nozzle 21 provided with a femalecoupling 22 at the end thereof, wherein to provide a radial inletpassage 23. The base 11 is also provided with a second radial aperture24 in which is threadedly engaged an outlet nozzle 25 provided with amale coupling 26 thereon, wherein to provide a radial outlet passage 27.The radial outlet passage 27 is connected to an axial outlet passage 28provided by a coaxial cylindrical wall 29 terminating in an upper valveseat 30. The axial outlet passage 28 is connected to a passage 31 wifichis of annular configuration surrounding said axial passage and which is,in turn, connected to the radial inlet passage 23.

The bowl I2 is secured to the upper aperture of the base in liquidtightengagement therewith by means of a threaded -interconnection 32 inassociated with an O-ring 33. The upper part of the bowl is providedwith a coupling head 34 provided with sealing washers 35 in which isdisposed a manually actuated relief valve 36 of the needle type,including a threaded needle 37 in a tapped bore 372. The coupling isprovided with apertures 38 communicating the float chamber P to a valvechamber 39. The needle 37 may be unscrewed and raised from its seating371 and gas may be permitted to escape through a vent 40.

Depending from the lower portion of the coupling 34 is a float guidestem 41 surrounded by a hollow cylindrical float core 42 which isadapted to slide freely therealong. The float core is provided with alower flanged support shelf 43 for the float. The lower portion of thefloat core has threadedly engaged thereon a valve head 44 with acup-type rubber seal 45 disposed between the valve head 44 and theflanged shelf 43. The float 46 is retained on the float core 42 byresting on the lower flanged shelf 43 an is secured thereon by means ofan annular retaining ring 47.

The lower portion of the axial outlet passage 28 is provided with anaperture 48 in which is threadedly engaged a hollow coupling 49 providedwith a male connector 50. Slidable within the hollow coupling 49 is apushrod 51 to which a screw 52 is threadedly engaged, in a tapped axialopening 53, therein. Sealing is provided by means of an O-ring 54between the head of the screw 52 and the upper part of the coupling 49.Sealing is also provided by an O-ring 55 disposed in an annular cavitywithin the coupling, the O-ring 55 being adapted to engage the pushrod51.

At the other lower end of the pushrod is a knurled knob 56 provided withan annular tapped opening 57 adapted to engage the male coupling 50 ofthe connector 49. The pushrod 51 is maintained normally in its lowerposition by means of a compression spring 58,

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is provided a conventional beer barrel100 containing beer 101 in which is inserted a conventional tapping rod102. The tapping rod 102 is provided with an annular coupling 103surrounding the rod which is adapted to be inserted in the bung opening104 of the beer barrel. The annular coupling is adapted to provideaccess to a regulated pressure of gas such as air or carbon dioxide bymeans of conduit 105. The tapping rod 102 is provided with a spigot 106which controls the flow of beer H through a male nozzle coupling 107 forproviding coupling engagement with the automatic shutoff valve 10 of anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows in combination another embodiment of the present inventionin which the plurality of beer barrels 100 in a primary cooling zone areinterconnected in series by lines 110; this depicts a Golden GateHood-up." 112 The last barrel is connected in the same manner as shownin FIG. 5, and the outlet to the automatic shutoff valve of one aspectof the present invention is connected to the inlet of a secondary cooler111 which may be of the Zahm, Heatex, or Tempright type. The outlet fromthe secondary cooler 112 leads to a dispensing tap (not shown) which maybe conventional manually operated tap or the automatically operateddispensing tap known by the name of Beer Master.

in operation, when the beer barrel or keg is empty, the gas underpressure will enter the bowl. As the gas enters the bowl the float willdrop and the valve will seat via a combination of lack of buoyancy inthe falling liquid and the pressure of the gas forcing the seal to seatand close off the outlet. The needle valve preferably remains closed inorder to effect more firm seal between the valve head and the valveseat. Alternatively, excess gas under pressure may be vented through thevent. Since the air vent is a restricted opening, a whistle sound willbe provided to signal that the beer barrel is empty.

When tapping a new barrel the air pressure is released through theneedle valve at the top of the bowl. As the liquid level rises in thebowl the float is raised and the beer can pass from the inlet throughthe annular inlet passage down through the axial outlet passage and outthrough the radial outlet passage to the beer tap. The needle valve isthen closed and any gas remaining in the bowl will be compressed untilthere is an equilibrium reached between the level of the beer in thebowl, dependent upon the pressure of the beer. This automaticallyprovides a reserve of kinetic energy for shutting off the valve when thebeer barrel is empty.

ln order to empty the system for cleaning purposes, the pushrod ispushed up against the action of the compression spring and knurled knobis threadedly engaged on the male coupling. Gas may then flowunencumbered through the entire system.

In order to tap a new barrel, when the combination of a second aspect ofthis invention is used, namely the combination of the tapping rod andthe automatic shutoff valve, the barrel is tapped and spigot valve isturned on. The air pressure in the barrel forces the air up the tappingrod and into the bowl of the automatic shutoff valve. If desired, theneedle valve may be opened to release the air pressure in order to fillthe bowl with beer, and then the needle valve is turned off. On theother hand, the needle valve may remain closed in order to build up areserve of kinetic energy in compressed air to assist in the shuttingoff of the valve when the beer barrel is empty. Thus, the float remainsin the liquid beer until the beer barrel is empty.

When the beer barrel is empty the air will enter the bowl and the floatwill drop. As soon as the float valve is close to the seat the excessair pressure within the bowl will ram the valve head home to the valveseat and the valve will then remain closed. The pressure of air in theempty tapping rod will be compressed on top of the bowl on the automaticshutoff valve ofone aspect of the present invention in order to effectfurther sealing action.

lclaim: 1. An automatic shutoff valve comprising: a. a main body portionincluding i. an inlet passage, and ii. a valved outlet passage saidinlet passage (a) (i) and said outlet passage (a) (ii) each being radialwith respect to said body, said valved outlet passage including agenerally frustoconical valve seat, said main body portion alsoincluding iii. an axial passage connecting said inlet passage (a) (i) tosaid outlet passage (a) (ii), and (iv) an annular inlet chamberinterconnecting said radial inlet passage (a) (i) to said axial passage(a) (iii); b. a float bowl upstanding from said main body portion, saidfloat bowl being provided with a downwardly projecting guide stem; c. anuntethered float valve having a hollow core disposed within said floatbowl and operatively connected to said valved outlet passage, the lowerportion of said float valve including a frustoconical valve head fittedwith a frustoconical resilient sealing ring, thereby to cooperate withsaid frustoconical valve seat to seal said valved outlet passage, saidguide stem being coaxial with, and surrounded by, said hollow core ofsaid float valve, thereby to provide guide means for the verticaloscillation of said untethered float valve between i. aliquid-dispensing position when said valve on the valved outlet passageis open and when said inlet passage, said bowl and said outlet passageare filled with liquid, and

ii. a liquid-shutoff position when said valve on the valved outletpassage is closed, and when said inlet passage and said bowl are emptiedof liquid, and said outlet passage is filled with liquid.

2. The shutoff valve of claim 1 including means manually operative toconnect the interior of the float bowl to atmospheric pressure, saidmeans comprising a needle valve.

3, The automatic shutoff valve of claim 1 including manually operablemeans for maintaining said float valve in a liquid-dispensing positionwhen no liquid is to be dispensed, whereby to assist in cleaning saidautomatic shutoff valve.

4. The automatic shutoff valve of claim 1 including an annular inletchamber interconnecting said radial inlet passage to said axial outletpassage, including means manually operative to connect the interior ofthe float bowl to atmospheric pressure, said means comprising a needlevalve and further including manually operable means for maintaining saidfloat valve in a liquid-dispensing position when no liquid is to bedispensed, whereby to assist in cleaning said automatic shutoff valve.

5. In combination:

A. a hollow beer tapping rod including 1. means for securing said rod toa beer barrel,

2. means for supplying a gas under pressure to said barrel,

and

3. valved outlet means; and

B. an automatic shutoff valve comprising:

a. a main body portion including i. an inlet passage, and

ii. a valved outlet passage said inlet passage (a) (i) and said outletpassage (a) (ii) each being radial with respect to said body, saidvalved outlet passage including a generally frustoconical valve seat,said main body portion also including (iii) an axial passage connectingsaid inlet passage (a) (i) to said outlet passage (a) (ii), and

iv. an annular inlet chamber interconnecting said radial inlet passage(a) (i) to said axial passage (a) (iii);

b. a float bowl upstanding from said main body portion,

said float bowl being provided with a downwardly projecting guide stem;

c. an untethered float valve having a hollow core disposed within saidfloat bowl and operatively connected to said valved outlet passage, thelower portion of said float valve including a frustoconical valve headfitted with a frustoconical resilient sealing ring, thereby to cooperatewith said frustoconical valve seat to seal said valved outlet passagesaid guide stem being coaxial with, and surrounded by, said hollow coreof said float valve, thereby .to provide guide means for the verticaloscillation of said untethered float valvebetween i. a liquid-dispensingposition when said valve on the valved outlet passage is open and whensaid inlet passage, said bowl and said outlet passage are filled withliquid, and

ii. a liquid-shutoff position when said valve on the valved outletpassage is closed, and when said inlet passage and said bowl are emptiedof liquid, and said outlet passage is filled with liquid.

6. in combination:

A. at least one beer barrel containing beer;

B. a hollow beer-tapping rod including 1. means for securing said rod tosaid beer barrel,

2. means for supplying a gas under pressure to said barrel,

and

3. valved outlet means;

C. an automatic shutoff valve comprising:

a. a main body portion including:

i. an inlet passage, and

ii. a valved outlet passage said inlet passage (a) (i) and said outletpassage (a) (ii) each being radial with respect to said body, saidvalved outlet passage including a generally frustoconical valve seat,said main body portion also including iii. an axial passage connectingsaid inlet passage (a) (i) to said outlet passage (a) (ii), and

iv. an annular inlet chamber interconnecting said radial inlet passage(a) (i) to said axial passage (a) (iii);

b. a float bowl upstanding from said main body portion,

said float bowl being provided with a downwardly projecting guide stem;

c. an untethered float valve having a hollow core disposed within saidfloat bowl and operatively connected to said valved outlet passage, thelower portion of said float valve including a frustoconical valve headfitted with a frustoconical resilient sealing ring, thereby to cooperatewith said frustoconical valve seat to seal said valved outlet passagesaid guide stem being coaxial with, and surrounded by, said hollow coreof said float valve, thereby to provide guide means for the verticaloscillation of said untethered float valve between i. aliquid-dispensing position when said valve on the valved outlet passageis open and when said inlet passage, said bowl and said outlet passageare filled with liquid, and ii. a liquid-shutoff position when saidvalve on the valved outlet passage is closed, and when saidinlet passageand said bowl are emptied of liquid, and .said outlet passage is filledwith liquid; and D. a beer tap operatively connected to the outlet saidauto matic shutoff valve. 7. An automatic shutoff valve comprising:

a, a main body portion including i. an inlet passage, and ii. a valvedoutlet passage said inlet passage (a) (i) and said outlet passage(a)-(ii)-each being radial with respect to said body, iii. an axialpassage connecting said inlet passage to said outlet passage; and

' iv. an annular inlet chamber interconnecting said radial inlet passageto said axial passage (a) (iii), the inlet to said axial passage (a)(iii) comprising a generally frustoconical valve seat; b. a float bowlupstanding from said main body portion,

said float bowl being provided with a downwardly projecting guide stem;c. an untethered float valve having a hollow core disposed within saidfloat bowl and operatively connected to said valved outlet passage, thelower portion of said float valve including a frustoconical valve headfitted with a frustoconical resilient sealing ring thereby to cooperatewith said frustoconical valve seat to seal said valved outlet passage;said guide stem being coaxial with, and surrounded by, said hollow coreof said float valve, thereby to provide guide means for the verticaloscillation of said untethered float valve between i. aliquid-dispensing position when said valve on the valved outlet passageis open and when said inlet passage, said bowl and said outlet passageare filled with liquid, and

ii. a liquid-shutoff position when said valve on the valved outletpassage is closed, and when said inlet passage and said bowl are emptiedof liquid, and said outlet passage is filled with liquid.

8. An automatic shutoff valve comprising:

a. a main body portion including i. an inlet passage, and ii. a valvedoutlet passage, said inlet passage (a) (i) and said outlet passage (a)(ii) each being radial with respect to said body;

iii an axial passage connecting said inlet passage to said outletpassage; and

iv. an annular inlet chamber interconnecting said radial inlet passageto said axial passage (a) (iii), the inlet to said axial passage (a)(iii) comprising a generally frustoconical valve seat;

b. a float bowl upstanding from said main body portion,

said float bowl being provided with a downwardly projecting guide stem,said float bowl including:

i. a needle valve manually operative to connect the interior of thefloat bowl to atmospheric pressure;

0. an untethered float valve having a hollow core disposed within saidfloat bowl and operatively connected to said valved outlet passage, thelower portion of said float valve including a frustoconical'valve headfitted with a frustoconical resilient sealing ring thereby to cooperatewith said frustoconical valve seat to seal said valved outlet passagesaid float bowl (b) further including (ii) manually operable means formaintaining said float valve in a liquid-dispensing position when noliquid is to be dispensed, whereby to assist in cleaning said automaticshutoff valve, said manually operable means comprising a captive,vertically oscillatable pushrod extending through an aperture in saidannular inlet chamber but normally biased to seal said aperture, saidpushrod being manually movable to engage the valve head of said floatvalve to urge said float valve to a fluid-dispensing position each whensaid inlet passage and said bowl are emptied of liquid, said guide sternbeing coaxial with, and surrounded by, said hollow core UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 587 927 Dated June28th 1971 Inventor(s) Reginald W. StOtt It is certified that errorappears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent arehereby corrected as shown below:

In the heading of the patent, after line 9, insert -Priority Nov. 23,1966 Canada 976,205. Column 1, line 40, change "38-F" to 3842F; line 51,change "38-F" to --3842F. Column 2, line 12, change "vale" to -valve-;line 17, change "flat" to ---float-; line 35 after "under" delete "1:";line 75, change "associated" to -association. Column 3, line 17, change"an" (first occurrence) to and--; line 50, change "Hood-up" to Hook-up-;same line, delete "1.12"

Signed and sealed this 11th day of January 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.F'LEI'CHER, JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer ActingCommissioner of Patents FORM PO-IOSO (10-69] USCOMM-DC 60376-0 69 e n.5,covnuuzrn wmmmrorncp I959 o-sec-aan

